Community Education: Student Empowerment

Asian American Studies 197J
Class ticket number: 121-866-200

Fridays, 2:00 – 4:50 p.m. @ Rolfe 3126

This student-initiated class combines the concept of Service-Learning with the founding philosophy of Asian American Studies.  Service-Learning is a pedagogy that enables students to take the knowledge acquired in the classroom and put it into practice through community service.  Student service activities are then linked through reflection and critical thinking, resulting in a new level of understanding.  The founding philosophy of Asian American Studies emphasizes the responsibility of students to serve the community by fighting for social justice.  The founding philosophy of Asian Americans Studies also emphasizes the need for students, especially at elite institutions such as UCLA, to both teach and learn from communities while developing the quality of humility in their interactions with community members.

Assignment 1: History and Autobiography

• Eriko Suzuki, "My Life's Intersection with Asian American Studies"
• Dean Saranillio, "Waking People Up to Their Humanity"
• Raymond Ramirez, "Shaping Our Destinies"
• Cheryl Samson, "A First Generation Pinay's Experience: Transformation and Responsibility"
• Elizabeth Delgado, "My Family and My Culture"
• Minyoung Bae, "Intersecting Life with History"
• Diana Yi, "The Historical Context of My Life"
• Mina T. Son, "My Role in Governing Change"
• Melissa Hilario, "Redefining My Life Goals and Aspirations"
• Christine Tran, "Our America: Building a New World"
• Genevieve Espinosa,"Who Am I?"
• Meredith Lee, "Intersection to the Path of Life: A Historically Related Autobiography"

10/19/01: Political Tour of Korea Town

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Assignment 3: Research Paper on Koreatown

• Cheryl Samson, "Justice for Workers in Koreatown: What is KIWA?"
• Tina Bhaga, "The Los Angeles Korean American Community and Child Abuse"

11/07/01: Resources

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• Raymond Ramirez, "My Former Home Community of Koreatown"
• Cheryl Samson, "Taking a Closer Look: Community Tour of Koreatown"

Assignment 5: Reflections on Relationship between Various Class Projects for This Quarter

• Eriko Suzuki, "Teamwork and Community Relationships"
• Meredith Lee, "Applying What We Learn from Our Class in Our Community"
• Dean Saranillio, "The Unity of Theory and Practice"
• Melissa Hilario, "First Visit to Wilton Place Elementary School"
• Melissa Hilario, "School Can Be Fun When Learning Relates to You"
• Cheryl Samson, "Youth Empowerment and Service Learning"

11/30/01: Final Reflection Journal

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• Dean Saranillio, "My Home Is in Hawai‘i"
• Dean Saranillio, "I Am Filipino and Japanese"
• Eriko Suzuki, "My Country, Japan "
• Eriko Suzuki, "The Most Memorable Day"
• Christine Tran, "My Name is Christine Tran and Tran Hoai Phung"
• Christine Tran, "I Love Food, But What's My Favorite?"
• Melissa Hilario, "My Favorite Food is Kare Kare"
• Melissa Hilario, "Teamwork"
• Cheryl Samson, "Short Biographical Stories"

Party for Children and Parents at Wilton Place Elementary School, December 7, 2001

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Excerpts from Students Final Reflection Papers

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Final Reflections by Student Facilitators

• Diana Yi, "Why I Want to Become a Teacher"
• Elizabeth Delgado, "A Road Towards Liberation"

See the Asian-Latino Cultural Museum that Tony Osumi's graduate students developed for elementary school kids!

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